Meet the Animals at NC Zoo

Last summer I visited the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. It's huge-- more than 500 acres. It took us six hours to see everything.

The habitats are really nice. It has an Africa exhibit and a North America exhibit.

Like many good zoos it is helping endangered animals and plants. The NC Zoo has been reintroducing the endangered Red Wolf to parts of North Carolina, and other conservation projects.

If you can't visit or want a quick tour, here's my video. I hope you like it.

Merry Christmas!

And a Happy New Year from Mossy's Animals!


I hope Santa is good to you!

How to Save Endangered Species

This email was sent to me from San Diego about how President Bush is not helping endangered animals at all. A lot of people are mad because George Bush is making it more difficult to save endangered plants and animals.

The story starts like this: Environmental groups filed a raft of lawsuits yesterday against the Bush administration, alleging that it fails to protect 13 imperiled species because of political meddling and other problems.

I hope the next president is a person who cares about the environment and endangered animals.

Meeting Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey

I was very excited to shake Barack Obama's hand when he came to Columbia last Sunday. It was also exciting to meet Oprah. Here's the video. Watch me get crushed by the crowd when Oprah comes over!


It was a very interesting experience to be at the football stadium with about 29,000 people. I think Barack Obama would be the best president for the environment. We need a president who really cares about the earth and all the animals. He says some good things on his web site about global warming. What do you think?

Key to Saving the Key Deer

Have you ever seen a deer that's only 3 feet tall? If you have, you've probably seen the Florida Key Deer. Florida Key Deers are one of the smallest deer in North America. They are endangered because they get hit by cars while eating trash on the side of the road. They are not endangered because of over hunting, since they are protected. People should not litter there, or the Florida key deer will go extinct. It's always important to pick up your trash.

In South America, the smallest deer in the world is the pudu. It is so small it can hide in grass!

Alerts for Birds, Endangered Animals , and CNN!

My Google alerts had more warnings about our environment today. I've posted before about how birds are disappearing. Here is what the newspaper and Audubon are saying. You can listen to some of the endangered birds here. The California Condor and Whooping Crane could be the next dodo bird.

The Endangered Species Program is going back to look at some mistakes it made. Click here and check it out. I hope the next president cares about the earth and all the animals.

Speaking of that, I did a Youtube question about the environment for the CNN debate. Did you notice that CNN had 34 Youtube questions. But not even ONE had to do with the environment, global warming or endangered animals? I didn't watch it, but saw the list. I wonder why?

Rhinos, bats and candidates

Some endangered black rhinos were killed by poachers recently. That's sad because scientists say the black rhino will probably be extinct soon. Read about it here.

That was in Zimbabwe. In the US, some kids killed about 100 tiny Indiana Bats for no reason. Those bats are also very endangered.

It seems like we all need to spread the word about taking better care of the earth and endangered animals. That's why I sent in another question to Youtube today for the CNN debate. You can check it out here. I got on CNN last summer, but they didn't answer me, so maybe this time.

Endangered orangutan baby born

Zoos do a lot of good work trying to save endangered species.
A orangutan named Nyaru was born recently at the zoo in Perth Australia. That's really good news because orangutans are critically endangered. These beautiful primates are being wiped out because of poaching and habitat loss. Click here to read about Perth Zoo and what they are doing.

Orangutans are one of our closest relatives. They have almost the same DNA as people. And they have the intelligence of a six year old. They are the largest tree living mammals in the world. It seems unbelievable that they are being wiped out.

Tell other people about saving endangered animals. There are lots of places you can send money to help, like Perth Zoo and this Orangutan Conservancy. And please vote for people who care about the earth and all the animals.

Invasion of the Naked Mole Rats

Riverbanks Zoo has a dozen new residents. Twelve naked mole rats from the Roger Williams Zoo in Rhode Island. I've seen Naked Mole Rats at the National Zoo in Washington before, and they were running fast through the tunnels in the small mammal house.

These are very strange looking rodent-mammals that are found in the sub-Sahara of Africa (that's the part of Africa that's south of the Sahara Desert).


Mole Rats have been made popular bythe show Kim Possible. That's on Disney Channel. Click here to watch a video of the Naked Mole Rat Rap.

And guess what? Nature is doing a program tonight all about ugly animals like the naked mole rat. Watch a video here.

Naked Mole Rats are very famous now! Stop by Riverbanks and check out them out. Let me know what you think-- cute or funny looking?

Koala Knockabout

I was trekking through the jungles of Australia when I came face to face with a koala, an emerald tree boa, and a wallaby. I got it all on video-- watch it here...

OK, actually it was at the Koala Knockabout exhibit at Riverbanks Zoo. This exhibit teaches many things about Australian animals. There are also fish and lorikeets at the exhibit.

Some say koalas could be extinct in the wild in a decade if we don't do more to save them. I'd like to see one in he wild someday. And is that a cool snake, or what?

Meet Gilbert, the Rockhopper Penguin

Gilbert is a Rockhopper at Riverbanks Zoo. My sister and I had the chance to meet him at Zoo Adventures. It was a very interesting experience, touching a rockhopper penguin. It felt very soft when it was wet, but it felt VERY soft when it was dry.

Rockhoppers are small and aggressive, and live in the sub-Antarctic islands. They feed mostly on krill, fish and squid. Rockhoppers aren't endangered, but some penguins are in danger due to global warming and habitat loss. Here's some video-- watch the way he walks down the stairs!



I've had the chance to touch many exotic animals in my life so far-- tiger, gibbon, chimp, elephant, giraffe, macaw, zebu, yak, oryx, boa, zebra-- and now Gilbert. When I meet animals so close, it makes me want to help animals even more.

The Right Way to Save Right Whales?

Right whales got their names because they were the "right whales" to catch since they have lots of fat and oil, and because they floated after they were harpooned. They are very intelligent mammals. They can be found off the coast of South Carolina especially in the winter and spring.


But unfortunately, the right whale could become extinct very soon. Some say less than 400 are left in the whole world. Fishing nets are killing them. Speeding ships are too--here's a picture of one killed this year by a big ship.

This story about right whales showed up in my e-mail. It says they are not even sure how to save the right whale now. The laws are too weak. Click here to listen to a save the whale song.

These beautiful animals swim right off our coast. Do you think we should try to save the right whale from extinction?

Wild Encounter with a Parrot

A wild parrot landed on my mom's shoulder last week. We were in Irmo, when suddenly, it just flew through the door of the ice rink and said "hello, hello." Then it jumped on her head. My mother asked people to get it off her, but they were too scared. It was on her for 45 minutes, until someone called a "bird guy", who owned 150 birds. He took it home.

It reminded me of a show I saw called The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, where wild parrots lived in the middle of a big city.

It also made me think of the Carolina Parakeet. Huge flocks of these colorful birds were once everywhere in South Carolina, until they were hunted into extinction in 1918. Here's what John Audubon wrote about the Carolina Parrot.

Wouldn't it be nice to look out your window and see wild colorful parakeets in the trees?

Would you be surprised if a parrot landed on your shoulder?

Hoooooowwlll! Wolf Awareness Week

Did you know October 9 to 14 is Wolf Awareness Week? I think it's great to stop and think about any endangered animals. Especially an animal so misunderstood like the gray wolf.

Native Americans admired gray wolves, and tried to copy their cleverness and hunting ability. But in the 20th Century, we hunted wolves almost to extinction in the U.S. That's because farmers were worried about their livestock. And fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood taught people to fear the wolf, even though there is no recorded killing of a human by a wolf.

But some people tried to save the gray wolf from extinction. They became listed as endangered animals. Now the Yellowstone wolves are a great success story. You can read about it here.

But this Time article says there might be trouble ahead for the gray wolf again. If you want to help the gray wolf, click here and send a letter.

I've never heard the howl of a wolf in the wild, but I hope I can someday.

Congratulations to Satch Krantz!

Palmer "Satch" Krantz is the boss at Riverbanks Zoo, and I just found out he was made the chairman of the whole AZA!!! That's Association of Zoos and Aquariums. All the best zoos and aquariums in the country are members of the AZA. It was founded in 1924. In South Carolina, Riverbanks Zoo is a member. So is the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston.

Satch gave me a tour of the entire zoo when I was four-- behind the scenes, the vet's offices, the aquarium tanks...


...and inside the elephant house. I was the first kid to see Tumpy, the new elephant.

Here is a message I got from Satch the other day to help me celebrate my 50th blog:

Let me first congratulate you on the 50^th blog posting on mossyanimals. Believe it or not, we have been following your wonderful blog for the past year or so, since it always contains such interesting and informative postings about Riverbanks Zoo. I am not at all surprised that you have had 40,000 hits.

Riverbanks is proud to be counted among your five favorite zoos. This is particularly noteworthy given your incredible knowledge about zoos and wildlife. The other four zoos on your “top 5” list are wonderful facilities. I am personally fond of the NC State Zoo and the Bronx Zoo.

I am delighted that you are still considering a career in zoos. I know you will find this a highly rewarding experience and look forward to having you join our profession. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you in this exciting endeavor.

Again, congratulations. Keep on posting!

Satch Krantz
Executive Director
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Welcome to My 50th Post!

Today I'm celebrating my 50th post with

one of my favorite subjects: zoos!!!

I've been to some really nice zoos. The first zoo I ever went to was the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. My favorite animals were the elephants and the cheetahs.

Next, I went to a smaller zoo, the Natural Bridge Zoo. They had lots of farm animals and llamas and alpacas roaming around. But truthfully, the habitats could have been better.

Next, I went to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk Virginia. I remember the elephant demonstration the most.

Riverbanks Zoo is the zoo I live closest to, and the one I've been to the most. I have some videos of it posted on this blog. I've met the director and top zookeeper, Satch Krantz, who has worked there since the opening in 1974. He's done a great job adding new animals and exhibits. We're lucky to have Riverbanks in South Carolina. Everyone should visit it and join.

Recently I visited the North Carolina Zoo. It was very huge, and I like the buffalo and the chimps. They are getting ready to open"Watani," a huge new elephant and rhino exhibit.

And while I was on a trip to New York City, we stopped at the Central Park Zoo. It was small, but it had red pandas, and it was in a really cool setting surrounded by tall buildings.

Zoos are great. They are fun to visit. They teach us about nature and animals and help save endangered animals. Help me celebrate my 50th post by going to the zoo. What zoos have you been to?

Endangered List Gets Longer

Scientists are reporting that life on earth is "disappearing." They say one in four mammals, one in eight birds, and one in three reptiles are in serious trouble.

The decline of the great apes is the worst and they are our closest relatives! The Western Lowland gorilla is close to extinct in the wild, and it is still being hunted for bushmeat!!!


Orangutans are also critically endangered because their habitats are being wiped out!!


Stopping the extinctions is important for all animals-- including human beings! Will you do something to help?

First, spread the word that it is a real problem. Next, support good zoos and aquariums in your area that help animals. Send some money to places that help animals, like World Wildlife Fund or others. Don't pollute, and save energy. Make your yard bird and animal friendly. Vote for people who think saving endangered animals is important. Will you do it?!

Benjamin-- The Last Thylacine

Benjamin was the last known thylacine. He died on September 1936 at Hobart Zoo in Tasmania. Have you ever heard of a thylacine?

Thylacines were carnivorous marsupials, also know as Tasmanian tigers-- but they were not real tigers. They were not wolves either. They were most likely related to kangaroos and other marsupials, and found mostly in Australia and Tasmania.

The same year Benjamin died, thylacines became protected species, but it was too late. They are believed to have gone extinct.

This part is sad. Benjamin died of neglect. It was too hot during the day, and he had no shelter during cold nights. (Hobart's Bengal tiger died the same way, the same year). When Hobart Zoo closed in 1937, no buyers wanted their lions. It was the Great Depression, and there wasn't money for animals. And so, the lions were shot. Very sad, isn't it? That is what I read in a book about Hobart Zoo. That's why I really appreciate the good zoos I've seen-- zoos that do a really good job of caring for their animals.

The thylacine was a beautiful and mysterious animal. And now it's gone forever because of hunting and ignorance. I hope we can do better for today's endangered animals.

Here is a video of Benjamin, the last thylacine.

A New Noah's Ark for Aardvarks to Zorrillas

Scientists in Texas are storing DNA of endangered species to plan for their future if they go extinct. They say they are on a mission to save the world's endangered species from extinction. They are storing frozen eggs and DNA of animals that are dangerously close to disappearing. Years from now scientists could use the DNA to reintroduce the animals. China is also trying to clone Pandas, which are very endangered and could become extinct within 25 years.

And there's this story about the Natural History Museum in London working hard to save upDNA and every single fact about all life on earth.

Even if it's too late for the Dodo Bird, the thylacine and so may other beautiful animals, it's a good idea.But wouldn't it be better if we just took better care of the earth and stopped the extinctions?

Go Binturongs, go!

My dad was reading the newspaper and saw a team called the Bearcats . So many teams are named for animals we know well-- tigers, eagles, falcons, bulldogs-- but my dad was curious to know what exactly what a bearcat was. A bear? A cat? Niether! It is known as a binturong, and here is what it looks like:

They live in Asia, and can be vicious if cornered. One interesting fact is they smell like buttered popcorn! They are "vulnerable" due to habitat destruction and poaching. I think I saw one at the Virgina Zoo a long time ago around 2000. They are related to the civet. Here is what a civet looks like:

Coming Attractions

I don't usually put commercials on my page, but this movie looks pretty good. It was sent to me in an e-mail. What do you think? I'm for anything that helps people think about animals and the environment. I will watch it when it comes to South Carolina. I hope you will too.

Hi ,

My name is Cory O’Brien, and I am the outreach manager for Guerilla PR. Currently, we are working with The 11th Hour to help promote their film, and I thought that you might be interested in this campaign for Mossy's Animals.

As you may know, The 11th Hour is Leonardo DiCaprio’s new environmental film, and includes visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet’s ecosystems, as well as insight gathered from over 70 scientists, designers, historians and thinkers.

If I Ran the Zoo

Zoos have been around since ancient Egypt in 1500 BC. I really like zoos because they protect threatened and endangered species. And they give you a chance to see many different animals from all over the world.

Zoos also help scientists study animals up close. And when people see the animals at the zoo, they can't help but care more about them. And if they care about them, they'll do more to help save the animals.

Here's some video from my recent trip to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina.


What zoos have you been to? What are your favorite animals?

Hello up there! It's feeding time!

Feeding the giraffes at Riverbanks Zoo is a very interesting experience. This video is from a few weeks ago. It's very exciting when the giraffe walks over to get the food. It's so big, but it's so gentle.


When its tongue grabs the food, it feels very sticky. Their slimy saliva protects them from thorns or twigs they might eat. Their tongues are almost 18 inches long and dark purple. They need their long necks and long tongues to reach leaves high up in the trees.

Giraffes are found in the savanna of Africa, and can grow up to 18 feet tall. They are related to the Okapi. I've seen pictures of its relatives during the Ice Age, like this one, and they look like deer or elk.


They can run almost 30 mph, and have a deadly kick if they need to. Uganda Giraffes are endangered, but most species of giraffes aren't endangered right now. But if habitat loss continues, they will be.

Goodbye Forever, Aldabra Snail

Driving in the car today, I heard on the radio about the latest extinction. They said this small purplish snail was the first extinction officially due to global warming.

When I got home I looked it up. The Aldabra snail may not be the most popular animal. I couldn't find a picture of it. But it made it onto this postage stamp. That's pretty good.

Scientists say this is just the beginning. Global warming threatens a million species!
Polar bears are now threatened because of global warming.

Some penguins are threatened now too.

Click here for some EASY things you can do to stop global warming and help the animals.

Lemurs of Madagascar

Lemurs are fun animals to watch. How much do you know about them? Lemurs live only on the island of Madagascar. That's off the coast of Africa. They eat primarily fruit and nuts. They are hunted by fossa, but their real threat is habitat loss.

Lemurs are primates in a family called prosimians, which include bush babies and slow lorises. Several species of the lemur are endangered due to the habitat loss and hunting. The most endangered of the lemurs would be the aye aye.

We have ring-tailed lemurs and red-ruffed lemurs at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. I've posted a short video I took of them recently.

It's good to know that people are working to save the lemur. Check out this site, the Madagascar Fauna Group. And here's another interesting video about Madagascar with "nearly headless Nick."

Chimpanzees-- So Like Us

Seeing the chimpanzees was one of my favorite things at the North Carolina Zoo. They are our closest relatives. They make tools, have close families, and even fight wars. Here's some video for you to check out (we're still learning to post video here).

I read Jane Goodall's book, The Chimpanzees I Love. She has an amazing story to tell. She started studying chimps in Tanzania in 1960 and taught us all about them. Here also is a film clip that shows how chimps have been so misunderstood.

Chimps are endangered, and could be extinct in the wild within 15 years! What are we doing to our planet? Do you think chimpanzees are worth saving? Please spread the word and do something to help.

Candidates, zoos and travels

It's been a busy few weeks...I visited the North Carolina Zoo. It was HUGE! Great habitats for the animals. They have chimps, rhinos and polar bears. When I have time I'll post some video I took.

And I went to the Central Park Zoo in New York City! The zoo was small, but nice. Central Park was huge, and New York City was colossal!

And my You Tube question was on CNN during the debate last week. Maybe you saw it. They showed it in the very beginning. The candidates didn't answer it, but the guy on TV said he liked my enthusiasm. But I wished they answered it so more people could understand about endangered animals. Maybe I'll try the next debate.

My favorite animals at the Central Park Zoo were the red pandas! They are related to raccoons, not to the giant panda. Red Pandas are endangered-- only 2,500 left in the world!

Help Save the Gray Wolf

This story about the killing of an endangered Mexican Gray Wolf was in my e-mail. It's upsetting that the government shot a female wolf with pups.

And another e-mail says that they will start killing even more wolves in Idaho and Wyoming.

We're supposed to help endangered animals recover, not kill them.Will you take some action? It's so easy-- just sign here. Let me know!

I was on CNN!

It was quick, but I was on CNN! The video posted below was used in a story about the You Tube debates in Charleston. We were getting ready to go to the beach when we saw it on CNN. Check it out! I'm working on more videos about lemurs, meerkats, and the oceans.

More good news. When we were at the beach we saw a Piping Plover. They are endangered, and we have to do everything we can to protect their habitats.

My Question on You Tube for the Next President

Well this is my first try at You Tube. I decided to post a question to the presidential candiates for when they come to Charleston. I don't think endangered animals and the environment get enough attention so I hope they will use my question.

The original video was much better. I haven't figured You Tube out yet. Let me know if you know how to get better quality. And my parents made me cut my full name.

Will you vote for a president who cares about animals and the environment? I hope you will.

My tiger encounter

This isn't something you get to do every day...bottle feed a rare Golden Tabby Tiger!!!

I was very excited to hold a real tiger at Preservation Station at Myrtle Beach this week. My eyes grew wide when I saw them bringing the tiger out. I've seen tigers on TV and in zoos, but this was the first time I got to hold one.

Here I am holding the tiger with my sister. It is also kown as a Golden Bengal, and there are only about 24 of this kind of tiger left in the world.

A tiger's fur feels soft, but rough at the same time. It was amazing to look into its light green eyes. The only sound it made was slurping on its bottle. The whole thing only lasted a minute or two, but it was cool.

I love tigers. At Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia they have Siberian tigers. They are also endangered with only about 500 left in the world. Learn more about how to help save the tiger.

Animal Jokes

What has antlers and sucks blood?
A moose-quito.

What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common?
They both have 'the' as their middle names.

What do you get if you cross a centipede and a parrot?
A walkie talkie.

Why are pigs bad drivers?
They HOG the road.

What do you call an elephant in the North Pole?
Lost.

Is this elephant lost...?

Manatee Alert!!!

There is a news alert for boaters to be extra careful of manatees!
Manatees are endangered. There are only about 3,200 left. They are mostly found near Florida and Georgia, but there have been some sightings near South Carolina. Their greatest dangers are motor boats and people net fishing. There are groups dedicated to saving the manatee. But for some reason President Bush doesn't seem to like manatees very much.



Manatees are very shy and slow moving mammals also known as sea cows. They are related to the elephant, and the extinct steller sea cow. I'll do a post on that soon.
I like watching manatees, and would love to see one in the wild. This newspaper says they are smarter than they look. But I don't know. Watch this video and tell me what you think!

Stop the Rhino Poaching!

Gangs of poachers are still killing lots of rhinos for their horns. That report from Traffic says that's how most rhinos die-- poachers in Zimbabwe and Congo hunting them down. Many scientists think the rhino will be extinct in the wild in about ten years if we don't do something!


Rhinos are so interesting because they look almost prehistoric. They were found in North America and Europe during the Ice Age. But the Wooly Rhino was hunted into extinction. Now there are only five species left in Asia and Africa. The Western Black Rhino went extinct summer 2006. The Sumatran Rhino is probably next for extinction since there are less than 300 left in the wild!

The World Wildlife Fund and Traffic and some other groups are working hard to save the rhino. They need your help. What will you think if rhinos go extinct because of poaching? Let me know what you will do to help.

Global Mourning

Global warming is bad for the environment, bad for habitats and animals everywhere, and bad for South Carolina.

So what are we doing about it in South Carolina? Well, we might be making global warming worse! How? By making a new electricity plant that uses coal.

And more pollution and global warming will make more animals go extinct-- like polar bears and walruses. And it will hurt the earth and the environment. And that's why I called this post global mourning. Many people think there are better choices.

You should give your opinion. What do you think?

To Bee or Not to Bee

I heard that Albert Einstein said, "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left."

My dad said Einstein probably never really said that. Anyone know? But it's still interesting to think about how important bees are.

This story says bees are declining worldwide. Bees are disappearing from Montana and other states. And this story from England about disappearing bee colonies.

Take the Mossy Challenge

If we want to save the animals, we have to help the climate and the earth. It's not as hard as you think.

First, I challenge 50 people reading this to change to better light bulbs, like we did at our house. (These are some examples.) The kind we have are swirly, but just as good as the old ones.

And it would be great if 50 people could plant a tree in their yard.

And can 50 people send some money to World Wildlife Fund, Sierra Club, or Nature Conservancy? We're members of those, but there are lots of good ones.

And I KNOW you recycle, right?!!!! And NEVER EVER litter!!!!

E-mail this to your friends. Spread the word. Then tell me some things you will do. The animals will thank you! And I will thank you in a future posting.

Giant Panda

Everyone loves pandas. The zoos in the U.S. with pandas are National Zoo in Washington D.C., Zoo Atlanta, San Diego, Memphis Zoo. I've seen the pandas at the National Zoo and Zoo Atlanta-- they were very cool. You can hear what one sounds like here, or check out a panda cam and videos here.

Pandas are very endangered. There are only about 1,600 in the wild, all in China. About 150 are in zoos-- mostly in China. They eat bamboo. In Chinese they are called "Giant Bear Cats." Aren't they amazing?

The Animal Riddle-- Are You Ready for 5th Grade?

This is just for fun. Tomorrow is my last day of fourth grade, so to celebrate, let's see how smart YOU are.

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

Correct answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe and close the door. This question tests whether or not you are doing simple things in a complicated way.

2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?

Incorrect answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant and shut the refrigerator.
Correct answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This question tests your foresight.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend except one. Which animal does not attend?

Correct answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator! This tests if you are capable of comprehensive thinking.

OK, if you did not answer the last three questions correctly, this one may be your last chance to test your readiness to be a fifth grader.

4. There is a river filled with crocodiles. How do you cross it?

Correct Answer: Simply swim through it. All the crocodiles are attending the animal meeting!